I caught this thread very late, so this may be a silly
question. When you write "God is doing these things," do you mean to
imply that God is in direct control over everything that happens in this
world (physically speaking)? Or does "divine action" refer only to the
sacrements?

In another post you wrote that you would object to a symbolic
understanding of the sacrements. Being from the Southern Baptist
tradition, a symbolic understanding is the only one I've ever had.
Frankly, I haven't given it much thought. If you don't mind my asking,
why would you object to this? If this requires a REALLY long answer, feel
free to refer me to a book or something.

> I responded to this in Don DeGraaf's post & just repeat briefly:> As far as _knowing_ is concerned, I reply simply that science works. We > can understand the "great majority" (99.99...%) of things that happen in > the world in terms of natural processes obeying rational laws. If we > believe that God is doing these things, we must understand the divine > action somehow to be in/with/through those processes.> This is the way traditional doctrines of providence have spoken > of God's actions in the world, & that view is strongly suggested by the > theology of the cross.> George